Armenia and Turkey business leaders seek normalized trade relations

The Armenia-Turkey Business Forum, held in Yerevan on September 3-4, concluded with discussions focused on normalizing economic relations between the two nations. Arsen Ghazaryan, President of the Armenian Industrialists and Businessmen's Union, noted that despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties and the closed border, business relationships have remained continuous since 1993. Ghazaryan emphasized that reopening the border would significantly reduce transportation costs, stimulate trade in border regions, and facilitate joint investment projects.

To support these efforts, Necdet Takva, President of the Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry, offered to provide space within the chamber's building to establish a representative office for coordinating commercial matters resulting from the normalization process.

In a related call for regional stability, CHP Kars Deputy İnan Akgün Alp visited the Ani Ancient City near the border. Alp expressed hope that the historic Silk Road Bridge connecting the two countries could become a ‘Peace Bridge,’ advocating for the resumption of border trade and the resolution of conflicts between Azerbaijan and Armenia to transform Turkey into a security basin.